Successful cultivation of garlic sometimes results in a veritable mountain of fresh bulbs. Since the shelf life is known to be limited, the question of storage arises. The simplest and at the same time most effective answer: dry garlic.

Air drying preserves the aroma

Air-drying is probably the easiest and cheapest way to store garlic after harvest. In addition, in this case the coveted aroma is not lost. The top priority for success: the garlic must 'breathe'.

  • Wash fresh garlic bulbs carefully
  • hang by the stems at room temperature
  • alternatively dry in a decorative wire basket
  • store in a paper bag in the dark, airy place

Under no circumstances should garlic be stored in the refrigerator. The fresh toes become damp, soft and rot sets in. Within a few days, the lovingly grown garlic spoiled.

Dry quickly in the dehydrator

If drying in the air takes too long, choose the dehydrator as the faster option. Equipped with an electric heater and a blower, garlic dries in a short time in the air.

  • peel the washed garlic
  • slice with a sharp knife
  • lay out on the sieve trays
  • the heated air flows out and initiates the conservation

Depending on the thickness of the garlic slices, the process can take a few hours. Do not leave the device unattended during this time. Ideally, a timer also regulates the process.

The oven replaces the dehydrator

It is usually not worth investing in a dehydrator to only dry garlic. A practical alternative is the heat of the oven to remove the moisture from the onions.

Instead of slicing, the tubers are halved after washing and peeling. Spread out on the oven tray, they dry at 70 degrees top and bottom heat for 4 hours.

If the halves aren't crisp yet, reduce the heat to 65 degrees Celsius. The garlic is dried when it feels slightly brittle.

tips and tricks

Dried garlic is easily transformed into finely dosed garlic salt for the gourmet kitchen. Grind the garlic slices in the food processor as finely as possible. Then add 4 parts iodized or sea salt to one part garlic powder. Keep the garlic salt you make yourself in a screw-top jar in a cool, dark cupboard.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

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Care tips